Shloka 40
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतम उवाच प्राजापत्या: सन्ति लोका महान्तो नाकस्य पृषछ्ठे पुष्कला वीतशोका: । मनीषिता: सर्वलोकोद्धवानां तत्र त्वाहं हस्तिनं यातयिष्ये
gautama uvāca prājāpatyāḥ santi lokā mahānto nākasya pṛṣṭhe puṣkalā vītaśokāḥ | manīṣitāḥ sarvalokoddhavānāṃ tatra tvāhaṃ hastinaṃ yātayiṣye ||
गौतम उवाच—राजन्, नाकस्य पृष्ठे प्राजापत्याः महान्तो लोकाः सन्ति, पुष्कलाः समृद्धाः वीतशोकाश्च। तान् सर्वलोकसमुद्भवाः प्राणिनः प्रार्थयन्ते। तत्राहं गत्वा त्वत्तो मम हस्तिनं प्रत्याहारयिष्यामि।
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical accountability as inescapable: even the most exalted heavenly destinations are not beyond the reach of dharma. Wrongfully held property must be restored, and spiritual aspiration does not excuse injustice.
Gautama addresses a king and describes the lofty, sorrowless realms of Prajāpati at heaven’s summit. He declares that he will go there and compel the king to return the elephant—indicating a pursuit of rightful restitution across realms.